Description

Biographical sketch and first complete discography.

Pages: 32, illustrated.

Authors
Graham Melville-Mason and Richard Beith

Language
English

Publisher
The Dvořák Society for Czech and Slovak Music, 1999

Formats and Prices
Soft covers: ISBN 0 9532769 0 2
Price (plus postage and packing):
£5.00

Born in the small Moravian town of Napajedla on 11 February 1912, Rudolf Firkušný was one of the most distinguished and esteemed Czech pianists of the 20th century. A pupil of Janáček and closely associated with Martinů both as interpreter and friend, his recordings of works by these composers remain among the best ever made (some would argue that they are thebest). He was a Vice President and Patron of the Dvořák Society.

Firkušný died in Staatsburg, New York State, on 19 July 1994. He maintained high artistic standards to the end of his long career, his approach being epitomised by this statement:

“It’s the learning, the living each day with the music and recognising how little you know, that keeps you motivated.”

Rudolf Firkušný, 1990

The booklet includes a biographical sketch by Graham Melville-Mason which includes all the essential facts about Firkušný’s life and career, and the first complete discography of recordings made by Rudolf Firkušný, compiled by Richard Beith.

There are photographic portraits of Firkušný at the age of nine (taken in Brno) and from 1950. A third photograph dates from 1990 and shows the pianist with violinist Josef Suk and Graham Melville-Mason at the Edinburgh International Festival of that year.